30 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



are those of a square shape. The wood should be cut into 

 the lengths as the size of the basket may require ; but do not 

 make them too large : there are two objections to this one 

 is, that they take up much space ; the other, that the plants 

 do not require much room. After the wood is cut into proper 

 lengths, the pieces should be bored within one inch from the 

 ends, taking care to have all the holes bored the same dis- 

 tance : there should be four lengths of copper wire, one for 

 each corner ; the wire should be put through each piece of 

 wood, and brought up to form the handle for suspending the 

 plants from the roofing. Iron wire should never be used in 

 making baskets, for it is probably injurious to the plants. 



The best kinds of wood for blocks are Acacia, Apple, Pear, 

 Plum, or Cork, if it can be obtained. The wood should be 

 cut into lengths, suitable for the size of the plants ; get some 

 nails, and drive one at each end with some copper wire to 

 form the handle, wind the wire round each nail, and leave 

 the handle about ten inches high. Small copper nails are 

 the best by which to fasten the plants on the blocks. 



Seedling Orchids. 



Few Orchids have as yet been raised from seed in this 

 country ; a large field is, however, open for all who take an 

 interest in hybridising this singularly beautiful tribe of plants. 

 Some time ago a gentleman said to me he should like to be in 

 a country where the Orchids grew in a wild state, in order 

 that he might have a chance of hybridising them ; his ideas 

 were that something really good might be obtained ; and no 

 doubt he was right, for how seldom is it that we flower two 

 Orchids alike ? I have seen at least twenty varieties, or nearly 

 so, of Cattleya Mossice in bloom at one time ; some had white 

 petals and rich crimson lip j others rose-coloured petals and 

 yellow lip, all differed more or less from each other ; in fact, 

 nearly all species of Orchids have varieties. Four flowers 

 taken from four different plants of Phalcenopsis amaUlis were 



